Solo - a composition for a single voice or instrument;To perform alone or as the predominant part.

John 10:10

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The Solo Manifesto

Greetings!

As we come quickly to the end of the first month of a new year, I have a question. BlogFam, how much progress have you made on your New Year’s Resolutions? Be honest with yourself. I wonder how many of you have truly been committed to your own goals, visions, or dreams since this new year has begun.

Towards the end of 2011, I really began to pray about God’s Vision for MY life and before the end of last year, I was given specific instructions about what Delesslyn was to do in this next season. This is one of the reasons I write this blog. The creation of my blog is a result of my time of prayer and fasting and I know that one of the areas I am to focus on is my writing. I KNOW I am to continue to write everyday until further notice. BlogFam, I have many dreams that I pray will come to fruition at some point along my journey. However, I know that ONE major focus for me, in this season, is my writing. Writing brings me JOY as I have told you before and writing my blog gives me a natural burst of energy. As long as I write my blog, I feel like I have been productive for the day. Since I have rediscovered and revived my passion for writing, I have been able to hone in on this gift and expand the ways I can share it with others.

BlogFam, I have definitely been at the place where I have done this for a week or done that for a month and I was always excited when I began. However, there is a totally different feeling when you are doing the thing you KNOW you are called to do. I may have a variety of gifts, talents, abilities, dreams, or passions, any of which I could excel at; however, I know that in this season, my writing is my central focus and anything that would come in the way of my writing is NOT tolerated. What about you? What is YOUR THING? What is the ONE thing that you are willing to sacrifice and to do without pay and just for the pure JOY that you get when you engage IT, share IT, think about IT.

On yesterday, my baby brother shared with my siblings and I a video from Tyler Perry. In this video, Tyler Perry shares a secret to his success. He gives the glory to God and he does acknowledge that his success was a result of seeds he planted years ago when only 30 people showed up to his plays and he was doing one play a year in his early years. My Friends, I want to share with you one statement from Tyler Perry that struck me and I know will be helpful to all of you:

“All you can do is plant your seed in the ground and water it and believe…That is what allowed me to be in this position right now. I would not stop believing…My only focus was to do my one play…There are so many people who go in so many directions… Those kind of people are all over the place and I usually try to get them to focus. Focus on ONE thing, one area. Put ALL of your energy into watering ONE area. If you spread the water across many, many seeds, you don’t have as much water for ONE seed. So, focus on ONE thing. Make it YOUR priority and stick with it on matter what!”

BlogFam, I submit to you this is his Solo Manifesto. All Tyler wanted to do is pull together ONE play and that was his focus. Everything else came as a result of his focus on that ONE thing. So, again, I ask, what is your ONE thing?

In our scripture for today, I believe that Jesus shares with us his Solo Manifesto and he also tells us the Solo Manifesto of the enemy so that we can be aware. I know that this verse has often been quoted for many different reasons most especially to focus on what we gain because of our connection to Jesus. In reading this verse, we put things off on the enemy and we celebrate the abundant life that Jesus has come to give to us. However, today, I invite you to re-consider this verse as a proverb for your own life.

In this ONE verse, Jesus declares to us his ONE thing. The ONE reason why he came. And while we are aware that Jesus did many things throughout his ministry – miracles of healing, feeding, teaching, fasting, praying, calling, dying, rising, and ascending - this verse summarizes the main idea of his entire life. This is his Solo Manifesto. He came to give us LIFE and Life MORE Abundantly. And so that we can be clear, he graciously tells us the three-fold part of the ONE reason why the enemy has come – to steal, to kill, and to destroy. We do NOT have to guess about any of these things.

Again, what is your Solo Manifesto? What is the ONE thing that you KNOW you were created to do? And are you doing it NOW? If Jesus had a singular focus of his life and ministry, why shouldn’t we? Yes, he accomplished that ONE thing in a variety of ways, but EVERYTHING he did can be summarized in his Solo Manifesto:

I am come that they might have life, and

that they might have it more abundantly.

BlogFam, I pray that you would DISCOVER your ONE thing. WRITE DOWN your Solo Manifesto {I, [State Your Name], was created for the specific purpose of _______________________} Then FOCUS on planting seeds and watering your seeds in that direction. If there is anything or anyone that steals, kills, or destroys that which brings you JOY, re-evaluate that person, place, or thing and their connection to your purpose and then make whatever decisions you need to make in order to live your life more abundantly.

P.S. - BlogFam, I NEED your prayers and support - KIDS KORNER Radio program - It is a moment to spotlight the children and youth [and youth ministers] of our community! PLEASE tune in ONLINE at http://www.wigoam.com at 5:15pm EVERY SUNDAY AND let me know you are listening!!! Also, VISIT us at www.facebook.com/kidskornerradio OR shoot us an EMAIL at kidskornerradio@gmail.com if you have any suggestions for guests, topics, or would like to be a sponsor! [sponsorships are only $25]